Duda said: “Scouting is an extremely important method of educating young people and teaching them maturity, teamwork, solidarity, cooperation… At the same time, it is a place where young people receive very significant exposure to the values of patriotism.”

Referring to his own membership of a scouting organization during his youth, Duda said: “Being a scout taught me how to be a good Pole, complementing what I learnt at home.”

The president also made reference to the forthcoming hundred year anniversary of Polish independence, and the role of Polish scouts in ensuring that independence.

He said: “This is a year which … is an incredibly important year, during which we will commemorate and remember, and once again express gratitude, to all those thanks to whom Poland regained its independence following 123 years of partition, including Polish scouts.”

“They [scouts] were always there, they always rose to the challenge, and they never let their fatherland down.”

According to the president, the founder of the Polish Scouting movement Andrzej Małkowski placed great emphasis on the link between scouting and independence. (sl/vb)